Wall panel construction



J J ZEUGNER WALL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug; 20, 1940 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 I UNITED STAT-3E3 PATENT OFFICE I 2,312,949 I WALLPANEL CONSTRUCTION John J. Zeugner, Baltimore, Md. D

Application August 20, 1940, Serial No. 353,357

2 Claims. (c1.'72-124) This invention refers to wall constructions and more" particularly to those utilizing wall boards of materials formed in sheets nailed or attached to studdings or other supporting beams, frames or the like.

It has among its objects to provide an arrangement of panels that will take plaster or similar compounds on its surface without tending to create long cracks therein at the joints. To have the arrangement such that the panels will prevent the creation of cracks across the surface of the plaster in an eifective manner. To have the panels formed so that the corners between the ceiling and walls, and between adjacent meeting walls, may be without continuous longitudinal joints that would tend to create the breakage in theplaster at these locations. Another object is to have the form of the panels such that they will securely interlock with one another and still have 'an economical form, and susceptible to convenient packing and handling. Also to eliminate the use of extraneous accessories and artifices ordinarily employed where same is used. Other objects will become apparent-as the invention is more fully set forth.

In the present manner of applying wall boards, the joints of the boards are rectangular or square, and are placed in an unbroken line continuously across the wall or ceiling. This continuous straight joint weakens plaster placed upon same and eventually causes a crack to follow this line across the room, or surface, which cannot be remedied.

In this invention this fault is eliminated by forming the wall board into diamond shapes and arranging them in such staggered alignment that the crack cannot follow a continuous straight line. Metal lath, corner pieces and special arrangements are conventionally used to cover or prevent breakage at the corners of walls and other places where the walls of plaster are diverted in angular directions from each other. They are expensive in labor and material, and do not effectively provide for the prevention of future cracks. In this invention the board is formed in angular planes to prevent the existence of an open joint at the angular turns where walls or walls and ceiling meet, and thereby form a solid base for the covering plaster to be supported and form a continuous bond at these locations. The reason why the plaster breaks at the joints in the normal situations, is due to the fact that the wall board bends and oscillates imperceptibly at these locations. There is a long sag or movement in the board and eventually the plaster becomes so weakened that it breaks and shows a crack. Where the boards are rectangular or square in shape and are joined with continuous lines of joints in straight lines, the cracks in the plaster follow across the room at the joints because the weakness and bending of the plaster exists in that way. Where the joints are staggered and follow various directions, the breakage is prevented. The bending stresses of the boards are distinctly different from those of the rectangular or square boards with continuous straight line joints, because a substantial piece of wall board intervenes and prevents the cracking line. The plaster will not break if the bend is limited in extent and is reinforced by a bending stress in another direction. 7 The drawing appended to this specification im dicates a form or example of a wall board panel structure embodying this invention. U f Figure l is an isometric view of a-wall air: mounted with panels of wall board formed in ac cordance with this invention;

Figure 2, is a plan view of a single panel unit as used on the flat wall or ceiling surfaces;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a modified form of panel unit suitable on the wall corners to eliminate cracks or spaces at this location;

Figure 4 is a perspective detail of another panel unit suitable for the juncture where two walls and the ceilin meet;

Figure 5, a wall-ceiling unit in perspective, suitable for locations away from the corners.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another modified form of panel strip suitable for covering the corner of a room;

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of a rhomboid form of panel based on the same structure as shown in Figure 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the construction indicated in the drawing, I represents studding in a conventional structure, on which a series of wall board panels 2, are fastened with nails 3. These wall board panels are preferably made in diamond shapes with the peripheral transverse border edges 4, apexed and meeting at a point 9, while the longitudinal border edges 5 are parallel to each other. The form is such that the various wall board panels in the series meet and interlock securely with each other. The joints 6 between the board panels are diverted to angular directions as they follow along the side edges 4 and 5 and this in turn prevents the panel from bending or moving under their weight or other stresses. Plaster l is spread over the surfaces of the board panels and covers up their surfaces and that at the joints. The joints and edges of the panels underneath the plaster being staggered prevents cracks or the sagging of the plaster, keeps the surface of the plaster suspended in such a uniform manner as to obstruct a continuous crack across its surface.

The modified form indicated in Figure 3 is bent into an L-iorm 8 to provide a continuous. integral corner for the Walls and ceilings, when installed, as indicated, so that when covered with plaster there will be suflicient base to support it substantially. The support for the plaster in this case eliminates the weakness caused by theedges meeting openly at right angles and tending to cause breakage of the plaster. Ordinarily the edges meeting in this manner have to be coveredwith tape, metal lath or some other accessory to prevent the plaster from cracking.

In the form indicated in Figures 6 and 7,, the panels M are built on a rhoinboid shaped apexed at 9 and bent along a predetermined line r2 which will enable it to fit in the cornerjoint where walls and ceiling meet. The form shown in Figure 6 is a continuous strip of such rhomboid shapes ljoined integrally together, while- Figure 7 is a single unit. In Figure 6 one portion ll of the panel has been left unbent to The other show the manner of bending same. portions l3 are bent at right angles to enable the panel to fit into the wall-ceiling corner, and eliminate a straight joint and have an interlocking arrangement for locking other panels to it.

This applicant avoids and eliminates in his arrangement, the use of tape, metal laths and other accessories, as well as their incidental costs and trouble. These conventional corner pieces also create additional joints where they come into contact With the edge of the boards, as well as the tendencies towards cracks.

The form of panel described by applicant is relatively simple, but none the less effective. It meets a situation that has created considerable disturbance up to the present time, by reasons of cracks appearing soon after the plaster has been put on. Such cracks are frequently attributed to poor workmanship and causes considerable hardship on the workmen and contractors when objected to by owners of bulidings. The fault is not in the workmanship but in the fact that the conventional joint is continuous and opens up an uninterrupted opportunity for the cracks to proceed. With applicant's form of wall board this is eliminated and the cost of installing the work for the complete project is appreciably reduced.

In the forms indicated in Figures 4 and 5, the wall board panels are molded or pressed to the forms shown in order that the ceiling and walls may meet without having a space or crack at the base of the right angle junction. Sucih cracks or spaces produce cracks in the plaster which are not desirable from a structural or aesthetic point of view. The bends l0 and II strengthen th work and are formed at right angles to the main longitudinal portions of the panels and are provided with the apexed ends 9 so. as .to fit into these-called standard panel units and use the principles of the invention that will avoid the continuous joint.

While'but one general form of the invention is. indicated in the drawing, it is .not desired to limit. this application for patent to such form, or in any other way otherwise than limited by the principles of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall-board unit of the class described for corner construction comprising in combination a plurality of panels joined together along a common edge line and bent angularly with respect to each other so that the said edge line can form a corner homogeneously joined for the unit, the remaining edges of the panels being angularly disposed to each of their adjoining edges and adapted to form a divergent line joint where other units are brought adjacent thereto to form a wall or ceiling. surface.

2. A wall board unit for corner construction comprising a pair of panels joined together along one sid and bent at right angles to each other .to form a corner forjjoining walls and ceilings, the panels being provided. with two straight. sides parallel to each other and longitudinally arranged and their other sides angularly and apexedly arranged for positioning against similar units andv maintaining a non-straight joint in between, and running from said corner substantiallyas described.

JOHN J. ZEUGNER. 

